Which wild mouse is which?

Question
Hi again, here's the dilemma:

Button and Smitten seemed quite content-they had toys,tunnels, a wheel, and a run-around ball that they would travel around in.  I'd re-arrange things once a week, but noticed Button seemed restless. Woke up one morning and they were both gone.  Button I believe, had chewed a hole through the second level of the habitat.  I panicked.  That was two weeks ago, and I've since caught five mice and have no idea which ones if any, are Smitten and Button.  I put them all in separate containers and during cleaning and feeding, I noticed one mouse had a much stronger odor than the others-

is that an indication it's a male?

The other 4 all had the same "female" looking parts, so to make things easier I've paired them up into two habitats.

The problem:  I live with and take care of my 73 year old mother, my dog who has cancer, and a cat that's good at catching mice but treats them with amazing gentleness.  

I have all this stuff for mice-toys, huts, ladders, tubes, etc.
There's no way to know if I have Button and Smitten, and I can't keep them all but dread releasing them.

What if it's my two?  If it isn't, am I subjecting these mice to an unhappy, captive existence?

The stress of it all is getting to me. Especially since my mother has no idea I've been housing them and would absolutely freak if she found out.  I don't know what to do and was hoping you could help me make a decision?  If not, I totally understand.

Thanks for your time.  

Trissa.

Answer
Dear Trissa,

What I don't know is whether Button and Smitten were tame enough to be handled. The only hope you have is whether they act differently than the other mice, with you or with the cage and accessories. If they were tame enough to be handled, this will be be easier. In any case, seal yourself in the bathroom with them mice, their cage, some tubes and hidey places not touched by your pets, and your live traps. When I say seal I mean stuff a towel under the door and seal off any place a mouse could go. Put all hideys and cage in the tub. Put the mice in.  Can you handle them? You might want to have light gloves on. You kind of have to go from here, but the idea is to see if the mice react to you, and if they choose the cage or the tubes they don't know. If a mouse goes into the cage, try closing it and seeing how it reacts. Does it act comfortable, or does it either go nuts trying to get out or hide in the corner? Does it know what the wheel is? If a mouse escapes the tub, that's why you have the live traps and why you have sealed the room. You'd better give yourself a lot of time to do this. Mice instinctively run into a tube, so you can use this as an advantage to get someone.

Plan B is to bring the cage, etc., to the park. See who runs or stays in the cage and who runs away. If they all run away.... well, Button and Smitten will find themselves a new life.

If you don't find the two, they might be the next mice you catch. This could turn into a real project. As long as you are trying this, don't clean the cage.

As for the scent.. it is true that males smell worse than females. But I can't guarantee anything. Hopefully you can get them in an empty aquarium or covered bowl (casserole dish) to look. The link in the last answer should be very helpful.

Best of luck. Let me know what happens, in a follow-up. I don't necessarily get feedback and I don't get comments at all.

squeaks,

Natasha